EC boss dismisses Kyagulanyi’s claims about voters’ register

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The Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, has dismissed allegations of irregularities in the national voters’ register raised by National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi.

In a statement issued on December 28, 2025, Byabakama said the Commission had noted a statement circulating on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in which Kyagulanyi alleged irregularities in the voters’ register.

He said Kyagulanyi cited two voter location slips issued to individuals bearing the name Matovu Ronald, with similar dates of birth, and alleged that the Electoral Commission had deliberately registered the same person at different polling stations to facilitate multiple voting.

Byabakama said the Commission reviewed the cited voter location slips and established that they belonged to two distinct individuals who were registered in different electoral areas.

“The voters are clearly distinguishable by their unique photographs. While the individuals share similar names and days of birth, this does not in any way mean they are the same person,” the EC boss said.

He said the claims suggesting otherwise were false and misleading.

Byabakama noted that in compliance with data protection and privacy laws, the Commission would not publish photographs or personal details of the affected voters.

“The commission further advises all stakeholders to refrain from sharing individual’s personal voter information on social media without his/her consent, as this violates privacy laws,” he said.

He also used the statement to inform the public that the biometric voter verification system has been enhanced to verify voters using fingerprints or facial recognition before a ballot is issued.

“Without successful biometric verification, one will not be issued with a ballot paper (s). This safeguard firmly upholds the principle of one person, one vote,” he said.

Byabakama further said Kyagulanyi had alleged that the Commission refused to provide the eight presidential candidates with the final national voters’ register.

“This claim is entirely incorrect and misleading,” he said, noting that a soft copy of the voters’ register was issued to all presidential candidates immediately after nomination on September 23 and 24.

He also assured the public that a hard copy of the register for use on polling day would be issued two weeks before polling.

“The commission is finalising production of these copies and will issue them within the legally prescribed timeframe,” he said.

The Electoral Commission urged Kyagulanyi and all stakeholders to use established channels available to candidates to seek clarification, verify information and raise concerns regarding the electoral process.

“The commission remains committed to conducting the 2026 general elections in a transparent, professional, and credible manner, and reassures Ugandans of its dedication to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process,” Byabakama said.

Ugandans will vote for a new President and Members of Parliament in the general election scheduled for January 15, 2026.

The other presidential candidates are Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement party, the incumbent, Robert Mabirizi of the Conservative Party, Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change, Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party, Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation, and Frank Kabinga of the Revolutionary People’s Party.